2015 Exercise Log/Challenge

[Crankin]

So, today I went to the same step and sculpt class I went to last week. Last week, it seemed to be the thing that pushed my immune system into overload. But, I really tried to figure out what happened and it was more like 5 days in a row of intense exercise, including nordic skiing, riding outside, boot camp, spin, and then this class. I do everything I can to mitigate the things about the class I know affect me a lot, mostly the heat and humidity that build up in the room. Started using Nuun in my bottle and wearing the coolest clothing I have. I use the teeniest weights (2 lbs.), even though for some of the stuff they feel too easy. But moving on the step combined with anything bigger than this is not good for me. I stand by the giant fan and also near the door to the outside that can be opened. I felt much better during class today, but I also have not been on the bike (either outside or inside) in a week or skied, although I have been exercising. Also, last week, the instructor (who is good) was injured and she stayed off the step and modeled everything, which actually I think, made the class harder.
I hate admitting that I seem to fall apart with intense stuff after a few days, and the thing is, it's not always. Currently trying to figure out what nutritional things may be contributing. We are going on a nordic ski trip in the Cascades at the end of February. I want to be healthy and trained. The skiing will not be any harder than I usually do, it's just skiing 6 days in a row that worries me. This has affected every bike tour I've been on... my sensitive stomach, combined with traveling is not always a good combination. I'm better than I used to be, but I also don't want to give up experiencing the food/wine part of travel, either.
Onward.

[ny biker]

There are several reasons why I don't do any bike touring, and food is one of the big ones. I've found that any stomach problems I might have during long rides are caused by eating the wrong foods the day or so before the ride. It's easy enough to control that when I'm riding a couple of times a week during my normal routine, but I worry about having to rely on eating out all the time on multi-day tours. Just going out of town for a one-day bike ride can be a challenge.

Do you keep a food diary? That might help to show patterns that you can correlate with how you feel, especially if you include notes on your activities each day.

[Crankin]

I just can't live my life like that. I love traveling, am a serious foodie, and I love to cook. I also eat out at least once, sometimes twice, a week. I feel like a wimp compared to others. When I eat at home or even in restaurants in my area, I am OK, although if it's a special occasion, sometimes I eat stuff I don't usually eat. I know what bothers me. Some of it is healthy stuff, of which I eat more of now, like veggies, especially broccoli and Brussel Sprouts. Too many beans are not good. I don't drink milk, and if I eat plain yogurt, I take Lactaid. Cheese does not bother me. Lentils, some of the time. Even when I go out, I usually order healthy stuff, it's just different. For the past 9 months I've been eating a mostly Mediterranean diet, chicken, fish, and vegetarian meals. I cannot live on a diet of plain chicken, potato, and bland veggies. I love ethnic foods, like Mexican and Italian, but have given up pretty much all Asian foods. I can eat spelt bread daily and even really good whole wheat bread a couple of times a week, but I do restrict this. The stomach thing is kind of separate from the allergy stuff/achiness/feeling like a truck hit me, although it can occur together. I know how to control the exercise stuff, but really, two summers ago, when I was in Italy, I was not going to refuse any food, unless it was something I was allergic to. So, I had a couple of miserable days, due mostly to a combination of lack of sleep, eating, wine, and some hiking. In Portugal, I didn't have espresso at every café stop each morning during our rides, nor did I eat pastries. But, I didn't hold back on my dinners. Breakfast and lunch were pretty normal for me, just more meat at times. Besides riding, food is a major activity in my life, and has been since I was a kid. My brother is the same way, even though we lead very different lives. My mom was a fabulous cook and entertainer and we both got that from her.
I am not going to end uplike the stereotypical old Jewish lady who complains non-stop about what she can't eat and her digestive issues! Really, I control it as much as I can at home, and am still trying to figure out a few more things, but my lifestyle isn't going to change. Some of this is inherited, as I have 2 relatives with serious colitis. The single one thing I found out when I had all that testing in 2007 is that I have a weird genetic marker for colitis, so most likely this is what's going on. Allergies and autoimmune stuff run in my family, so, I try to deal as much as I can. It's just frustrating.

[Crankin]

Rest day.
Stomach is fine. I had minor autoimmune symptoms from yesterday's workout (some achiness, joints hurting); also had disrupted sleep last night and my alarm woke me up, very unusual. Better now. Boot camp in the morning. Hoping it's not icy.